Prolactin suppression during pre and post-implantation periods on rat uterine glucosamine synthase activity

Administration of bromocriptine (Bc), an ergot derivative having dopamine receptor agonist activity, to rats on day 1-5 of pregnancy prevented implantation of blastocysts and significantly suppressed uterine glucosamine 6-phosphate synthase activity. There was no effect on implantation or the enzyme activity when Bc was injected on day 7 or later of pregnancy. Injection of prolactin following Bc partially restored the enzyme activity and increased number of implantation sites. These results indicate that suppression of prolactin on day 1 to 5 of pregnancy causes failure of implantation. Bc on day 9 or later had no effect possibly due to the availability of placental LH/hCG to support the luteal cells.